Hibiscus Lodge Charitable Foundation, Inc.
a Florida not for profit corporation
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Charity:
"The poor do more for the rich man by accepting charity than the rich man does for the poor by bestowing it."
Why Charity?
Our Charity Mission Statement | Suggest a Charity
How to Donate
Give to Charity
2010 Charities
Kiowa Lodge Disaster Relief
| Why Charity? |
| "Relief" is the 2nd Masonic Principle after Brotherly Love and before Truth. Originally it meant to be a mutual fund, or a charity chest to help Operative Masons in distress, their widows and orphans. It was critical in times when there was no public support of any kind to the population. Today, as social security and welfare provide a basic safety net, the Masonic Charity, in order to protect this fundamental and historical tenet and value of the Fraternity, was opened also to non-Masons for the good of the entire community. The interpretation of "Relief" is now practiced in its wider context, not simply providing money to relieve distress but actually and more importantly, caring and giving personal time and talents.
We are familiar with 20th and 21st century Masonic Charity organizations and their work, such as the Shriners, the Scottish and York Rites and others, but the history of documented Masonic charity and relief work goes back at least to the Middle ages. Here are a few examples out of many: |
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| Charity and mutual support are universal concepts and are rooted in antiquity of both the East and West civilizations. However, these days it has ceased to be a gift from the heart and has become to some, the mere writing of a check and to others, just a "nice" way to obtain an income tax receipt. Unless the personal element is there, Masonic charity becomes phony and meaningless. True Charity is about giving for nothing in return. |
| Buddha said: "The Charitable man is loved by all; his friendship is prized highly; in death his heart is at rest and full of joy, for he suffers not from repentance; he receives the opening flower of his reward and the fruit that ripens from it. The charitable man has found the path of salvation. He is like the man who plants a sapling, securing thereby the shade, the flowers and the fruit in future years. Even so is the result of charity; even so is the joy of him who helps those who are in need of assistance." |
| Confucius said: "Love is to conquer self and turn to courtesy. Could we conquer self and turn to courtesy for but one day, all mankind would turn to love. The signs of love are ever courteous of eye and ever courteous of ear; to be ever courteous in word and ever courteous in deed. Without the door to behave as though a great guest were come; to treat the people as though we tendered the high sacrifice; not to do unto others what we would not they should do unto us; to breed no wrongs in the home. To be respectful at home, painstaking at work, faithful to all. Love is to mete out five things to all below heaven - modesty and bounty, truth, earnestness and kindness. Modesty escapes insult; bounty wins the many; truth gains men's trust; earnestness brings success; kindness is the key to men's work." |
| And in the Holly Bible ( Leviticus 19:18), it is said: "Love thy neighbour as thyself" to which others added an explanation of its importance: "and that is the whole law". |
| Mission Statement |
| We view our Lodge charity work primarily, but not exclusively as a self-improvement tool, cement that binds us as a band of Brothers and enhances that mystic tie amongst us and that will make us proud, as a group, of our joint accomplishment. Whenever possible, we will do our work directly and hands-on, acting together in meaningful and measurable ways, seeking opportunities to make real, instant difference. We will do so always and only after the needs of our Brothers and/or their immediate families are satisfied first, if there are any, and if they are worthy and truly in need or in distress. |
| Policy |
| If there are no internal relief needs, contributions to outside worthy distress causes for individuals will be considered, preferably but not exclusively those involving gifted or handicapped children or impaired seniors. Efforts should be made to provide personal, hands-on help by the Brothers whenever possible, before a monetary gift.
Once internal distress relief needs are satisfied, or if none exist or approved, contributions would be made to Masonic organizations such as deMolay or the Rainbow Orders or to individuals within them in conjunction with the performance of a specific, mutually agreed upon and worthy Masonic projects. The donation would be then delivered upon presentation of the fully completed assignment in a festive occasion in Lodge. Contributions to the Masonic Home will preferably be specific and identifiable as Hibiscus donations and hand delivered by members of the lodge. |
| Current Charities |
2010: |
| Application Procedure |
| To qualify, any brother may apply by contacting the Committee Chairman by email or, if by phone, confirmed in writing. The committee Chairman will contact at least two other members who will make a joint decision, including the mode of delivery, within 24 hours by majority vote among them. If approved and funds disbursed, the brother proposing the charity will report in the next open lodge meeting about the cause and outcome of the event and it will be published (if appropriate) in the Craftsman. At which time also, brothers will be asked to voluntarily replenish the fund accordingly.
When applying either in writing or by phone, please be prepared to provide the following necessary information without which the committee may not be able to timely and fairly process the application. |
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| Fund Raising Guidelines |
| The charity must be a gift from the heart. Unless the personal element is there, Masonic charity will become phony and meaningless. Charity is about true giving for nothing in return.
We appeal to our Brothers that when any of us had a good day, week, quarter or year, or just a successful business transaction or family celebration, to remember to share your success with those who were not so fortunate by contributing a token to our fund. Others may want to consider that if a brother concludes a business transaction/deal/etc., with another Brother within our Lodge, a percentage of the profits, at their choice, could go toward our Charity fund. Any amount is a good amount, and either a monetary contribution or personal time commitment of one's professional expertise will be as welcome. In a society like ours today, where time is so important, committing such precious commodity for free can mean more than a financial donation. |
| How to Donate |
| It is so easy to give! |
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| Food for Thought |
| It is always difficult to decide to whom, what, when, how, and how much to give so that our donation will have the most positive effect. Charity work in Masonry is a pillar of our Brotherhood, and is as important for us, the giver as it is to the receiver. I have collected some interesting thoughts, some mine and some of others, that may help us make such decisions:
"There are eight degrees in charity in ascending order: The highest degree of all is to "strengthen the hand" of the poor man, either by a gift or a loan or a partnership, in such a way that he has no need of further charity. Next, is to give charity is such a way that the giver does not know to whom he has given and the receiver does not know from whom he has received. Next, is to give charity in such a way that the giver knows whom to whom he has given, but the receiver does not know from whom he has received. Next, is to give in such a way that the receiver knows from whom he has received but the giver does not know to whom he has given; for example, to throw a bag of money behind one, and not look to see which poor man took it, in case he should fee ashamed. Next, is to give to the poor man into his hand before he asks for it. Next, is to give to him after he asked for it. Next, is to give less than is fitting, but with a cheerful countenance. Worst of all, is to give even a large amount, but with a grudging countenance." In Masonry and in other traditions it is believed that a charity or a good deed that is advertised, or publicized, ceases to have much value as a good deed! Some, on the other hand, would claim that it's not so much a question of avoiding advertising, but of doing a good deed, an act of charity, in such a way that the person who receives the benefit is not humiliated. There is no harm in a person getting some kind of glory for doing good deeds, but if he gets the glory at the expense of the self-respect of the person to whom he's done the good deed, then it counts as a bad deed. Therefore, in our Charity work, we may want to avoid doing a good act for someone in such as way as to mortify him by reminding of his need for that deed. That's why so many hands that feed people get bitten - it's because the manner in which they do the feeding. The best way to give charity, in my view, is either to convey one's gift to the person in need without even revealing one's identity, but even better still is not to give, but to lend; because a person who borrows money preserves his self-respect in receiving a loan rather than a gift." |
| Ted Sharon |
| Hibiscus Lodge No. 275 Charity Foundation | |